Reflecting on vocation: a randomized trial of online expressive writing career interventions

Though recent research on calling has connected the construct to a variety of positive career-related and general well-being outcomes, there remains a scarcity of empirically tested interventions to increase calling. The present study sought to address this gap in the literature by experimentally testing three writing interventions based on Pennebaker's expressive writing paradigm (Pennebaker & Beall, 1986) with the intention of increasing participants' sense of calling and other career-related outcomes. These interventions included articulating one's general career goals (i.e., the career goals condition), anticipating potential future career obstacles (i.e., the adaptability condition), and reflecting on one's life purpose as it relates to one's future career (i.e., the purpose condition). This study also used text analysis software to explore whether the linguistic content of participant journal entries was predictive of study outcomes. While many results were non-significant, participants in the purpose condition reported greater presence of calling and vocational identity at post-intervention than participants in other conditions. Furthermore, use of causation words was predictive of presence of calling and career adaptability while use of negative emotion words was predictive of career confidence. Results appeared to support previous career development theory that has suggested that narrative-based reflections on one's personal passions, motivations, and purpose, as well as the prosocial impact of one's career, are beneficial. Limitations and considerations of how to improve these interventions in future studies are also discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

Colorado State University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Authors dc:creator

• White, Micah, author
• Dik, Bryan, advisor
• Becker, Tony, committee member
• Beseler, Cheryl, committee member
• Peila-Shuster, Jackie, committee member

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25675/3.02501

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mountainscholar.org:10217/211763